Is there a way to uninstall XP and downgrade?

[Sleww_99]

I would like to uninstall Windows Xp professional and
downgrade to windows 98 S/E, is there a way that i can
uninstall XP from DOS and without formatting install
Windows 98 S/E? i just want to be able to do it without
losing all my data.

thank you
Pat

 

[Will Denny]

Hi Pat

If you upgraded from Win 98 and decided to save the uninstall files, there
will be an entry in Add/Remove Programs to revert. Failing that, you will
have reformat your hard disk/partition and then re-install Win 98.

--

Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User


| I would like to uninstall Windows Xp professional and
| downgrade to windows 98 S/E, is there a way that i can
| uninstall XP from DOS and without formatting install
| Windows 98 S/E? i just want to be able to do it without
| losing all my data.
|
| thank you
| Pat

 

[Phil]

Nope, the only way to go backwards is to format and install win98. If you
have backups you can re-load your data and programs.
Why do you need to go back to win98?

 

[Gordon]

I would like to uninstall Windows Xp professional and
downgrade to windows 98 S/E, is there a way that i can
uninstall XP from DOS and without formatting install
Windows 98 S/E? i just want to be able to do it without
losing all my data.

thank you
Pat

Nope, you can't.UNLESS, you did an in-place upgrade and elected to retain
your previous settings, in which case there should be an entry in Add/Remove
Programs for XP. Otherwise, it's a Format and install.

 

[modelingfrog]

use XP'S file and settings transfer wizard. this way you dont loose
anything. check it out.

 

[Gordon]

use XP'S file and settings transfer wizard. this way you dont loose
anything. check it out.

Won't work. The HDD has to be formatted.

 

[modelingfrog]

your right NTFS for XP and FAT for 98 but
Sleww_99 seems to only be concerned about the data, so even simply saving
all the files and stuff to CD should prove sufficient.

 

[CS]

I would like to uninstall Windows Xp professional and
downgrade to windows 98 S/E, is there a way that i can
uninstall XP from DOS and without formatting install
Windows 98 S/E? i just want to be able to do it without
losing all my data.

thank you
Pat

No way to do it without loss of data. If you really wish to go back
to 98, backup all your data first - documents, E-Mail, and so forth.
Backup to removable media such as a CD or Zip disk.

You will have to either fdisk (NTFS partition removal) or at the very
least re-format (FAT-32 partitions). Both actions are destructive.

Also, rather than doing what you propose, why not consider installing
98SE to your machine and dual boot with XP Pro? There are very good
instructions at the follow web site you can look at and see if you're
up to it.

http://www.dougknox.com/

Click on the link for Windows XP Tips.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

The normal way to "uninstall" _any_ operating system is to format
the hard drive and install a new OS of your choice.

However, if you performed an upgrade from Win98/Me, elected to
backup the old system files, and didn't convert the partition to NTFS,
then all you need do is boot into Safe Mode and Start > Control Panel

Add/Remove Programs. All of these conditions _must_ be met for the

uninstall option to be available.

Otherwise:

How to Manually Remove Win XP and Restore Win9x
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q314052


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:




You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

 

[Michael Stevens]

use XP'S file and settings transfer wizard. this way you dont loose
anything. check it out.

Won't work, FAST only works to transfer from 98/Me/2000/XP to XP. It doesn't
transfer XP to 98/Me/2000.
--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Michael Stevens]

I would like to uninstall Windows Xp professional and
downgrade to windows 98 S/E, is there a way that i can
uninstall XP from DOS and without formatting install
Windows 98 S/E? i just want to be able to do it without
losing all my data.

thank you
Pat

Click on or copy and paste the link below into your web browser address box.
Remove XP and install 98/Me
http://michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html#how5
--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Modelingfrog]

thanks for the headsup I must have failed to read that part about it.

 

[Alex Nichol]

I would like to uninstall Windows Xp professional and
downgrade to windows 98 S/E, is there a way that i can
uninstall XP from DOS and without formatting install
Windows 98 S/E?

Not in any practical way. You would have at the very least to be on a
FAT 32 partition, and then to delete the Windows folder, and would have
none of the files put in there by your programs, nor any needed registry
entries.

*if*
You installed as an upgrade run from the earlier system
and
You took the option to save system files
and
You did not convert to NTFS

then there will be an Uninstall Windows in Add/Remove Programs.
Otherwise you will need to use FDISK from the 98 startup floppy to
delete the partition (a non-DOS one if NTFS) and start over. Backup
data first of course

 

[Peter Hutchison]

I would like to uninstall Windows Xp professional and
downgrade to windows 98 S/E, is there a way that i can
uninstall XP from DOS and without formatting install
Windows 98 S/E? i just want to be able to do it without
losing all my data.

Boot off a Windows 98 boot disk (or the XP CD)
Delete existing partitions (make sure you have a backup of data
first),
they will be Non-DOS partitions.
Create a new FAT32 partition
Install Windows 98.

Peter Hutchison
Windows FAQ
http://www.pcguru.plus.com/